University Options for Your Kids as an International Teacher

For international teachers, where you live and work can influence your children’s future education — particularly when it comes to university options, access, eligibility, and fees.

Depending on the rules that apply in your home country, there can be a lot to consider. Some families choose to stay abroad and continue with international schooling, while others return home during the teenage years to re-establish residency or eligibility for domestic tuition rates.

The right choice varies significantly by nationality — and sometimes by region within a country. Let’s explain some of the considerations that apply to university options for a few different nationalities.

University Options in the UK: Home Status vs. International Fees

For British families, university fees can be a major factor in deciding when (or whether) to return home.

To qualify for “home student” tuition fees in the UK, students must usually:

• Be a British or settled resident, and
• Have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years immediately before the start of their course

Children who spend most of their secondary schooling overseas may therefore be classified as overseas students, which can mean tuition fees up to three times higher than the home rate.

“We moved back to the UK when our eldest was 15 so they wouldn’t be considered international. It was a tough decision, but the difference in fees was just too big to ignore.”

Australia: Residency Requirements

Australian universities base domestic fee eligibility primarily on citizenship or permanent residency, but physical residence in Australia can still be relevant for some fee categories, government loan schemes, and state-based support.

Australian citizens living overseas usually remain eligible for domestic tuition rates, but families who have lived abroad long-term may need to:

• Demonstrate ongoing ties to Australia, and
• Return before applications to manage logistics, documentation, and access to support systems

For some families, returning is a lifestyle choice; for others, it is driven by cost and certainty.

The USA: More Flexibility, But Still Questions

American families often have more flexibility than those from many other countries.

U.S. citizens raised overseas are generally eligible to attend U.S. universities as domestic students. However, state residency rules determine access to:

• In-state tuition rates
• State-based financial aid

Most states require students to have lived in the state for 12 months or more before enrolment, for reasons other than education. For international families, establishing this residency can be complicated.

As a result, some families return to their “home state” during high school to secure in-state tuition eligibility.

Canada: Residency and Provincial Rules

Canadian citizens typically qualify for domestic tuition rates at universities regardless of where they have lived.

However, provincial residency rules can affect:

• Eligibility for lower in-province tuition
• Access to provincial grants, loans, or financial aid

Many provinces require students or families to live there for at least 12 months before studies begin to be considered residents for funding purposes.

This can influence the timing of a return to Canada, particularly for families hoping to reduce costs or access student aid.

University Options for Other Nationalities

For families from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, policies vary widely by country and sometimes by institution.

African nationals:
Some countries link domestic fees to recent residency or local schooling, while others allow citizens abroad to pay domestic rates but require extensive documentation or re-integration processes.

Asian nationals:
In countries like India, China, and the Philippines, access to public universities is often tied to national entrance exams, quotas, or local schooling pathways. Kids raised overseas may face additional barriers unless they follow recognised international curricula or return early enough to re-enter local systems.

Middle Eastern nationals:
In Gulf countries, citizens may have access to heavily subsidised higher education, but eligibility can be affected if children are educated abroad. Some families instead look to international universities in regional hubs such as Dubai, Qatar, or Lebanon.

For many families in these regions, international curricula (IB, A-levels, AP) provide the most flexible pathway to global university options.

Staying Overseas: International School Pathways

Not every family chooses to move home.

International schools offering IB, AP, or A-levels provide globally recognised qualifications that are widely accepted by universities around the world.

“Our school covered our kids’ tuition, so they received a world-class IB education we could never have afforded back home.”

For many families, staying overseas offers benefits beyond academics, including language acquisition, cultural adaptability, and international networks.

Final Thoughts on Univerity Options for International Teaching Families

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer about what the best option is for international teachers with families.

Moving back home before uni can help secure domestic fee eligibility and simplify admissions. But staying overseas can open doors to international opportunities that may not exist at home.

Based on our experience chatting with teachers with older teens, make sure you research early so you understand the implications of your choices. And how the rules apply to your nationality.